Importance of lime for your lawn

Why to use Lime

Here in Connecticut, and in all of New England really, our soil tends to be acidic.  While some plants thrive in acidic soil, grass does not. Grass prefers a soil pH of 5.5-6.5.  Soil pH is measured on a scale of 1-14.  With 1 being extremely acidic and 14 being extremely basic (or alkaline), 7 being neutral.  To get closer to a neutral acidity level, you would need to apply limestone, a calcium-rich mineral.   The amount of lime to apply depends on just how acidic your soil really is and also what kind of soil you have (sand, loam, clay).  Check the instructions on your soil test kit and the instructions on the lime product you choose to determine how much lime you need to apply

Types of Lime

Powdered (Pulverized) Lime can be used in lawns or gardens.  Its very light and fluffy so can be very difficult to spread. 

Pelletized Lime is easy to be spread, great in a lawn or a garden.  Takes 3-6 months to work in your soil

Fast Acting Lime is easy to spready, goes up to 5x farther than pelletized lime, and starts working in your soil within 30 days.  This should not be applied to gardens.

When to Lime

We like to say, IT’S ALWAYS TIME TO LIME! But in reality, the best times to apply lime are in the spring or fall.  If your soil is very acidic, you can apply lime both in the spring and fall and split up the application amounts so your soil has time to absorb it.